Blog Tour * Black Iris by Leah Reader

Posted May 1, 2015 by Yesi in Book Reviews / 0 Comments

Blog Tour * Black Iris by Leah ReaderBlack Iris by Leah Raeder
Published by Atria Books on April 28th 2015
Genres: New Adult, Suspense, Thrillers
Pages: 384
Format: ARC
Goodreads
three-half-stars

The next dark and sexy romantic suspense novel from the USA TODAY bestselling author of Unteachable, which was praised for its “lush, haunting prose, deft storytelling, and scorching sensuality” (M. Pierce, bestselling author of the Night Owl trilogy), and called “one of the best forbidden romances” (Lauren Blakely, New York Times bestselling author).

“Love is not a thing that we create. It’s an undoing.”

It only took one moment of weakness for Laney Keating’s world to fall apart. One stupid gesture for a hopeless crush. Then the rumors began. Slut, they called her. Queer. Psycho. Mentally ill, messed up, so messed up even her own mother decided she wasn’t worth sticking around for. If Laney could erase that whole year, she would. College is her chance to start with a clean slate. She’s not looking for new friends, but they find her: charming, handsome Armin, the only guy patient enough to work through her thorny defenses—and fiery, filterless Blythe, the bad girl and partner in crime who has thorns of her own. But Laney knows nothing good ever lasts. When a ghost from her past resurfaces—the bully who broke her down completely—she decides it’s time to live up to her own legend. And Armin and Blythe are going to help. Which was the plan all along. Because the rumors are true. Every single one. And Laney is going to show them just how true. She’s going to show them all.

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Yesi Thoughts

 

“Sometimes you feel things so much, so intensely, it becomes a new kind of numbness, the oblivion of overstimulation.”

I am not quite sure where to begin, where to end, or even what to say about Black Iris. Rarely am I at a loss for words when it comes to a book in my favorite genre, New Adult. I guess there is a first for everything. The quote above sort of says a little about how this book made me feel. Black Iris is a book that caught my attention immediately upon reading the synopsis. I was intrigued by the words and by the beautiful cover and I couldn’t wait to dive in.

I will say what just about everyone I know that has read a Leah Reader book has said…PHENOMENAL writing! Ms. Reader has such a way with words… they are mesmerizing, captivating, haunting, and utterly amazing. This is not your typical NA book. It is gritty, haunting, revenge-filled, and sometimes painful. Yet, the brilliance in the writing kept me going. I am a hearts and flowers, love conquers all kind of girl, so this was definitely a change for me. Laney is not the easiest heroine to love and she is certainly not the easiest to root for. She has a list of issues a mile long. From addiction to mental illness that runs in the family, to drugs and self-loathing, throw in the fact that she is out for revenge and wow, just wow. Throughout the book we see many stages of these issues and I have to say, at times, it was difficult to read. The pacing is good but the past and present made this anything but easy. Honestly, I can’t say that I loved the story, but I can appreciate the excellent writing and beautifully woven story that Leah Reader has created. A fan of psychological thrillers as well as the new adult genre will find this book uniquely brilliant.

“I am not the heroine of this story. And I’m not trying to be cute. It’s the truth. I’m diagnosed borderline and seriously f*cked-up. I hold grudges. I bottle my hate until it ferments into poison, and then I get high off the fumes. I’m completely dysfunctional and that’s the way I like it, so don’t expect a character arc where I finally find Redemption, Growth, and Change, or Learn How to Forgive Myself and Others.”

three-half-stars

About Leah Raeder

Leah Raeder is a writer and unabashed nerd. Aside from reading her brains out, she enjoys graphic design, video games, fine whiskey, and the art of self-deprecation. She lives with her very own manic pixie dream boy in Chicago. Visit her at LeahRaeder.com.

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